Emmett Ellis was born in rural Louisiana in 1933 and grew up picking cotton on his family’s farm. He found an escape from farm labor in the blues, building his first guitar from broom wire, nails, bottles and bricks. Eventually Ellis left the farm behind and went on the road with Rabbit Foot Minstrels under his new name, Bobby Rush, touring across Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi before settling in Chicago in the 1950s. Now based in Jackson, MS, Rush has over 400 recordings to his name, as well as an illustrious touring history, features in documentaries like the Martin Scorsese-produced The Road to Memphis and is even currently co-writing a Broadway musical. Despite how long he has been a working musician, he didn’t win his first Grammy Award until age 83, taking home the honor for Best Traditional Blues Album for 2016’s Porcupine Meat. One might expect a more relaxed performance style from a man who is now 91 years old, but instead Rush is known for his dynamic stage presence, often jumping high into the air while singing.
WHO: Bobby Rush
WHEN: Friday, Jan. 10, 7 p.m. (doors), 8 p.m. (show)
WHERE: Rialto Club
HOW MUCH: $20 (adv.), $25
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